Please expound on the purpose of a heart rate monitor. What can I learn by using one?

Do I need one!?

Is polar a good brand?

That pic isn't mine and I can't edit it out. Have I been hacked?

well that's weird! maybe it's a glitch with the site?

it's funny though.... I can tell that pic is someone who is very happy to be crossing her legs!

Really strange ... I just saw this photo posted by someone in the thread titled "My wagon got a flat tire ..."

Please expound on the purpose of a heart rate monitor. What can I learn by using one?

Do I need one!?

Is polar a good brand?

(Thanks for posting this! )

So you walk into the gym and step on the treadmill. You press the start button and the belt starts to move. The speed says it's set to 0.5 - is this fast enough for your workout? There's a girl a couple of treadmills over and she looks like she's running pretty fast - should you try to match her? The guy on the treadmill in front of you isn't going as fast as the girl, but he's going faster than you - should you be going as fast as he's going?

A heartrate monitor will tell you if you're training at the right intensity for what you're trying to accomplish. You start out by determining your maximum heart rate: subtract 220 minus your age (a 30 year old's maximum heart rate would be 190 (220 -30 = 190). Unless you're training to be a world-class athlete, it is not necessary to work at 90% - 100% of this. The goal for fat loss is 50% to 70% of your maximum heart rate. So for our 30 year old, she's aiming for 90 to 133 beats per minute. You don't have to worry about the math as you'll plug in your age to the device and it'll tell you where you are.

Here is a chart that might help (click on it to enlarge)

Do I need one!?

Is polar a good brand?

Sorry, forgot to answer these.

I would highly recommend one. The simplest ones are not expensive and just tell you your current bpm. Usually they consist of a chest transmitter and elastic band and a receiver that fits on your wrist like a watch. The one I have is a bluetooth transmitter that snaps onto a chest strap that talks to an app on my smartphone. I believe I paid $75 for both the transmitter, strap, and app.

I'm on my second Polar device - I've had good luck with both and recommend them. I'm not familiar with other brands and was hoping others could chime in.

thanks so much Don, very helpful.

I'm adding one to my amazon wish list right now..